Table 2.

Study characteristics.

Author and year	Country	Participants (sampling size, diagnosis, age)	Study design	Methods of data collection	Findings	Level of evidence [CEBM, March 2009]
Aithal (2020)	UK	N = 26, all with ASD; Age range = 8–13 yrs Mean Age = 10.65 yrs	Mixed methods cross over design	• Questionnaire • Semi structured interview • Arts based methods	• Significant improvements in social communication questionnaire (SCQ) • Minimally clinically important differences in strengths and difficulties questionnaire and SCQ • Three qualitative themes and 18 sub themes reflecting therapeutic process of change • Artistic inquiry identified six key moments of change	2B
Sengupta and Banerjee (2020)	India	N = 3, all with ASD, Age range = 3–11 yrs	Multiple case studies	Pre-post design case study	• Improvement in body attitude checklist and communication • Effects of DMP were sustained in three cases during post interventions assessments (3 and 6 months) • The effects of DMP declined after 9 months of intervention	4
Athanasiadou and Karkou (2017)	UK	N = 3; all with ASD; Age range = 6–7 yrs	Series of case studies (Arts-based)	• Video Recordings • Somatic responses (including drawings of a body figure, and written and video recordings) • Written reflections	• Enhanced social bonding and relationships • Increased expressive and receptive vocabulary • Improved self-regulation and empathy • Reduced stereotypical behaviours	4
Devereaux (2017)	USA	N = 17; 15 children with ASD, one child with down syndrome and one child with cerebral palsy; Age range = not mentioned	Interpretive qualitative approach	Person to person Semi-Structured Interviews	• Building connexion, awareness with self and others • Improved regulatory behaviour, coping skills • Enhanced capacity to focus, regulate energy levels and relax	4
Houghton and Beebe (2016)	USA	N = 1; ASD; Age = 6 yrs	Video micro analysis	• Video Microanalysis • Narrative of the first 80 s based on real time and slow motion	Micro disruptions of the connexions, missed opportunities for connexions, critical points in interactions were identified	4
Chiang et al. (2016)	Taiwan	N = 34; all with ASD; Age range = 2–4 yrs	Quasi-experiment research design	• Pre- and post-intervention and 3 month follow-up • Semi-structured observations	• No significant change in joint attention and engagement immediately after the intervention • Improvement during 3 months follow up in engagement state, supported joint engagement (child initiated) and co-ordinated joint engagement (child initiated)	2C
Samaritter (2015)	UK and Netherlands	N = 4; All with ASD; Age range = 6.3–17.2 yrs Mean Age = 12.02 yrs	Study (1) Mixed-methods design: Retrospective video analysis	Retrospective movement annotation and analysis of video vignettes of interpersonal relating in dyadic DMP	• Development of Social Engagement and Attunement Movement (SEAM) scale, with overarching themes (space, time, weight) and specific movement categories • Individual profiles of all four cases showed an increase within SEAM categories and an overall increase of the number of SEAM markers that could be recognised in the interpersonal movement actions	4
			Study (2) Mixed-methods design: Retrospective video analysis	Contents analysis of the therapist's actions	∙ Four basic themes were identified for structuring DMP sessions for ASD and illustrated with examples a. Procedural structure of the therapy process b. Structure of the sessions c. Relational modes d. Movement actions	4
		N = 4, all with ASD Age range = 11.9–17.1 yrs Mean Age = 14.9 yrs	Study (3) Mixed-methods design	Replication of Shared Movement Approach (SMA) intervention and outcome evaluation with SEAM scale	Average pre-post-intervention outcomes for group of four showed a positive trend on youth self-report scale, social responsiveness scale, and child behaviour checklist	4
Wengrower (2010)	Spain	N = 3 (2 children with ASD and one child with PDD); Age range = 3–8 yrs; Mean Age = 6.3 yrs	Multiple case study design	Narratives of three DM therapists as they wrote then in their case study, therapy journals, treatment reports	• Enhanced therapeutic relationship that implies a sense of mutuality, attraction and interest to know each other better • Created a shared and translation playing space where bonding evolved	4
Hartshorn et al. (2001)	USA	N = 38, all with ASD; Age range = 3–7 yrs; Mean Age = 5 yrs	Experimental design	• Video recording • Behaviours were coded and observed during the first and last movement sessions.	• Statistically significant reduction in resistance to teacher, negative response to touch and wandering behaviours • Significant improvement in on -task passive behaviour • No difference in eye contact, social relatedness, on–task active behaviours and stereotypical behaviours	2C
Summary
Year range: 2001–2020	Countries: EU, UK, USA, Taiwan and India	N = 133; Mean age= 9.1 yrs (age not mentioned in one study)	QUAL-4 QUAN-3 MIXED-2	Observing video recordings of the sessions is the most common method-5 studies, followed by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires −2 studies	Improvements were observed in • Group connexions • Relationship with the therapist • Awareness of self and others • Emotional regulation • Coping mechanisms • On-task behaviours

EU, Europe; UK, United Kingdom; USA, United States of America; N, Number of Participants; QUAL, Qualitative; QUAN, Quantitative.